Air-relief valve



Aug. 31 1926. 1,598,241

G. D. CHADEAYNE I AIR RELIEF VALVE Filed Oct; 20, 1924 v INVENKZJORI.

[BY/3&0? W

A TTORNEYS 40 time and Patented Au 31,1926;

as PATENT OFFI CE. T-

UNITED STAT GEORGE n. cm-nmmn, on NEW HAVEN, commc'r rcn'r.

'Application filed October 20,1924. Serial No. 744,885.

My present invention relates to adevice for releasing the air in steam radiators and the like and will be best understood from the following detailed description taken with 5 the annexed drawing which represents on an enlarged scale an illustrative embodiment of ,my lIlVBIltlOIhlIl vertlcal cross section.

In the above drawing, represents a casing of a suitable-metal having a reduced porl 0 tion 11 adapted to be inserted through a wall 12 of a steam radiator or the like and engaging said wall by means of an intermediate threaded portion 13, as shown. The inside end of casing 10 is preferably stopped 15 by a threaded block 14, while its outer end is provided with an outlet hole 15.

Adjacent said inner end of the casing 10 I preferably provide an outlet passage 16 in the form, preferably, of a valve seat taper- 20 ing towards the exterior of the casing. A tapered valve 17 is provided to fit on said seat, valve 17 preferably being composed of a non-corrodible metal having good bearing 7 qualities, such as Monel metal.

posed of two or more layers each of a metal having a dissimilar coefficient 0 expansion. For example, one layer may consist of a special brass, while the other may consist of invar, an alloy having an exceedingly low coefficient of expansion. If desired the ther-- mostatic element may be plated with a suitable non-corrosive metal such" as copper. Thermostatic combinations such as the one just described have. been ,known for some per se form no part of my present invention.

Thermostatic element 18 is so chosen and adjusted that when subjected to the steanr temperature somewhat less than steam pres-q sure it will concave downwardly and insert main seated against the tendencyof thermosl, tic element 18 to lift valve 17 from its s facilitated. W en, however. the pressure 5 within the radiator (the temperature as'yet being several degrees below steam temperat. Thus the vacuum is preserved and the. sequent fillin of the radiator w1th steam ture) builds up to a .point near the" atmospheric and still a trifle below it, element 18, due to its spring action, lifts valvev 17 from its seat and allows escape of the air.

In all the prior devices in which the vacuum is held and of which I am aware there s no positive means for lifting the valve from the seat, thus requiring that thepres sure within the radiator build up to a point greater than the atmospheric in order that such pressure may lift the valve fromits seat. By utilizing. both the thermostatic and spring properties of my actuating element 18, I accomplish the'opening of the valve before such excess'pressure builds up.

A further advantage of my valve resides in the fact that an increased expansion of the actuating element ,owingto an unex-.-

pected rise in steam temperature above that normally-used does not damage the 'element or the valve due to the springy nature ofthe element. By tapering valve 17 its undersurface exposed to the steam may be made com paratively small, whereby the total force of the steam pressure acting'to unseat thevalve may be small and an unexpected steam pres sure prevented from o enlng the valve.

The construction 0 my improved valve permits a large portion of itto be placed withinthe radiator. This location is of advantage in that it afi'drds a more sightly appearance and prevents water from the radiator walls from entering the valve chamber. ,I have therefore shown in.my illuslocation, but it will be understood that the valve casing may be located entirely without the radiator or the like if desired.

Various other details. may be varied without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. For example, the thermostatic element may take on other shapes from the one shown and the valve 17 located in other positions. However, it is preferred to locate the valve opening downwardly "whereby water is prevented from entering the interior of the casing. v V I claim:

1. In a" device of the type described, a

casing adapted to be secured to a radiator trative embodiment a valve having such a or the like, and having a passage therea through for venting :said radiator, a valve to and from said seat, said seat and valve being disposed so that subatmospheric premure in the radiator tends to maintain the valve seat insaid passage, a.-valve proper movable closed, and means responsive to steam temperatures to close the valve, said means be ing also responsive to atmospheric pressure within the radiator to open said valve at temperatures materially below steam temperatures. v

2. In a device of the type described, a'casing adapted to be secured to a radiator or the like, and having a passage therethrough for venting said radiator, a valve seat in the form of an outwardly taperirg opening in said passage, a valve'proper having a taper corresponding to that of said seat and movable to and from said seat, said seat and valve being disposed so hat subatmos'pherie pressure in the radiator tends'to maintain the valve closed, and means responsive to steam temperatures to close the valve, said means being also responsive to atmospheric pressure within the radiator to open said valve at temperatures materially below steam temperatures.

GEORGE E. CHADEAYNE. 

